Steam-trap



(N0 Model.) f

B. THOENS.

STEAM TRAP.

No. 413,109. l Patented Oct. 15,1889.

/Z//M/M Mw www@ N. PETERS. Plinio-Ll'lhgmphnr. Washingun QIC- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BURCI-IARD THOENS, OF NEW ORLEAN'LOUISIANA.

STEAlVl-T RAP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 413,109, dated October 15, 1889. Application filed May 13, 1889.` Serial No. 310,531. (No model.)

To all whom t 1v1/ay concern.-

Be it known that I, BUEGHARD THoENs, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, residing at New Orleans, in the parish of Orleans and State of Louisiana, have invented new and useful Improvements in Steam-Tra ps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for4 its object to provide a novel steam-trap for discharging the water of condensation from radiators, steam-heating coils, and other steam apparatus; and the invention consists in the features of construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed, reference being made to the accompanying drawing, in which the figure is a central vertical sectional View of a steam-trap embodying my invention.

In the said drawing the numeral 1 designates a closed casing or cap having substantially the form of a bell-glass and provided with a flange 2 upon its edge, by which it is bolted to a horizontal plate 3, formed with a central pendent chamber or well 4, having a bottom wall 5 in its lower portion and a chamber 7 below such wall. From the closed bottom 5 of this chamber rises a pipe 6, tapped through said bottom and communicating with a chamber 7, from which emerges an eXitpipe 8. An inlet-pipe 9 enters the Well or chamber 4, and the pipe 6 rises to a point above the level of the seat 3, from which the well or chamber4 depends. Surrounding the pipe 6 is a sleeve 10, having interior channels 12 to remove or diminish friction and to receive packing should the latter be necessary. This sleeve moves vertically upon the upright pipe 6, and is provided at its upper end with a valve-seat I3, which, as the sleeve rises, engages with a valve-plug 14, mounted on the end of said pipe. Immediately beneath this valve-plug openings 15 are cut in the end of the pipe, whereby water may How into the chamber 7 below. Upon the upper end of the sleeve 10 is a i'iange 16, upon which is mounted a float I7, having an open mouth at its upper end, which in the elevated position of the sleeve lies nearly at the top of the casing 1. The lioat is composed of a cylindrical vessel, of sheet metal or other suitable material, of such size as to leave a small annular space between its circular wall and the wall of the casing.

The operation is as follows: The trap being empty, the float, with its sleeve 10, sinks down by gravity, leaving the passages l5 open or 55 exposed. As steam enters by the inlet-pipe 9, the air is driven out of the trap, and the incoming water accompanying the steam gradually fills the well or chamber 4 and rises in the cap 1, thereby lifting the float until the 6o openings 15 are closed by the sleeve 10, as shown in the drawing. As the water continues to enter, it rises around the float and enters the same by flowing over its top until the weight of water therein becomes su fflcient to depress the float, whereupon the water passes through the openings 15, and thence through the chamber 7 into the outlet-pipe 8. If the water ceases to flow in, the steam'will blow what remains in the iioat out through 7o ber 7 may be omitted and the exit-pipe 8 con- 8o nected directly to the lower end of the upright pipe t'. The sleeve l0 is loosely ted on the pipe 6, so that the trap empties itself after it is out of use, the remaining water leaking out between the sleeve 10 .and the 85 pipe 6. I also provide the trap with an 0rdinary form of air-cock on its highest part, so as to discharge any air which may accumulate during operation.

My improved construction of steam-trap 9c differs from the prior apparatus having a pendent well and an open lioat in that the stationary vertical pipe rising from the bottom wall of the well extends above the plate which carries the bell-shaped casing, and is provided 9 5 at its upper end with a stationary valve, while the sleeve, which slides up and down on the vertical tube, opens through the bottom wall of the float and is furnished inside the iioat with a valve-seat. This specific construction roo provides a novel and useful apparatus wherein the valve is balanced, while the float is not collapsible. There are no stuffing-boxes. A large discharge is provided. It is simple, re-

The well or chamber 4 serves to -75 liable, and inexpensive. The outlet is watersealed immediately when the device is worked. It operates equally well at any pressure. It blows the air out when starting and empties itself when stopping.

What I claim is- A steam -trap consisting ot a horizontal plate formed with a central pendent well having a bottom wall, a closed bell-shaped casing surmounting the horizontal plate, a float located in the bell-shaped casing and open at its top for the water to overflow thereinto, a vertical pipe secured to the bottom wall of the well, rising in the latter above its horizontal top plate and having its upper end provided with a fixed valve, and lateral oriiices beneath the latter'7 a sleeve extending downward into the well from the bottom wall of the float, sliding up and down on the valved pipe and havingits upper end opening through the said bottom wall of the iioat and there provided with a valve-seat, an inlet-pipe communicating with the well, and an outlet-pipe connected with the vertical pipe, substantially as shown andv described.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

BURCHARD THOENS. Witnesses:

WALTER H. COOK, SAMUEL GRIFFIN. 

